Lock-stitch sewing-machine.



A. E. jERRAM. LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1914.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, I914.

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LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1914.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1914.-

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ARTHUR ERNEST JERRAM, 0F LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOEMACHINERY COMPANY, 0E PATERSQN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

LOCK-STITCH SEWING-MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Application filed May 21, 1914. Serial No. 839,967.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. JERRAM, asubject of the King of Great Britain, ref siding at Leicester, in thecounty of Leicester, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lock-Stitch Sewing-Machines, and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to lockstitch sewing machines wherein a rotatable horn is provid to support thework.

An object of this invention is to improve the construction and method ofoperation of such machines.

\Vith this object in view a feature of the invention contemplates theprovision in a lockstitch sewing machine provided with a rotary horn ofa shuttle support in the horn and .suitahlemechanism whereby the shuttlewill be prevented from partaking of the rotary motion of the horn.

Preferably, the construction is such as to include means for driving theshuttle so arranged asto be unaflected by the turning movement of thehorn and these latter means may be arranged to drive the shuttle whenthe latter is supported in the born to turn about an axis at aninclination to the axis about which the horn is-turned in its rotarymovement.

\Vith the foregoing improvements means may also be provided to spreadthe loop of thread engaged by the shuttle.

The invention also relates to the particular construction andarrangement of the looper so that it will act in cooperation with theshuttle in forming the stitch, and according to another feature meansfor heating the parts engaged by the thread or wax. Preferably thesemeans comprise conduits conveying heated fluid in close proximity tosuch parts and a device for 'circulating the fluid through suchconduits.

These and other features of the invention A will be understood from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan showing in detail thesupport for the horn, Fig. 4 1s a vertical section through the tip orupper part of the horn with the 'parts in the position they occupy whenthe horn has been swung through ninety degrees from the position shownin Fig. 1, showing particularly the shuttle and the means by which it issupported and driven;

- Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the part of the horn shown inFig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view, with the constituent parts separated, of partof the chain of connections through which the shuttle is driven; andFig. 7 is a view showing in detail a looper mounted in the upper part ofthe horn to cooperate with the shuttle in forming the stitches.

Like reference characters. indicate like parts in all the figures.

The machine in which the invention is described as embodied comprises ahorn 2 carrying a shuttle box 4 at its tip within which box is situateda looper or spreader 6, a shuttle 8, shuttle spool and mechanism foroperating these parts. The machine is also provided With a needle 10 andsuitable mechanism for operating it. In order to understand the presentinvention, however, it is only necessary to describe the shuttle, thelooper, and mechanism cooperating with these parts, it being understoodthat the other parts of the machine can be constructed and arranged inany suitable manner.

To enable the horn to be swung into different positions as is usual itis provided on its underside with. a hardened steel ring 16 which issecured to the horn in any convenient manner, as for example by screws18. The underside of the ring 16 rests upon a series of balls carried inperforations in a washer'22, the underside of. the balls 20 resting on ahardened steel ring 24-situated in an annular recessed portion of theframe 26 of the machine. A similar perforatedwasher 28 carries the balls30 that bear on the top of the ring 16, and bearing on the top of theballs 30 is a hardened steel ring 32 which is situated within an annularrecessedportion in a cover plate 34 which is secured to the machineframe 26. The horn in the particular embodiment of the inventiondescribed, is limited in its turning movement to less'than the completerotation by the provision of stops 86, but it is to be understood thatit could'be arranged to turn completely around if desired and that theterm rotary horn as used in this description and claims is to beunderstood as covering a horn that is partially or completely'rotatable. v

Secured in bearings in the machine frame 26 and extending upwardly intothe lower portion of the horn 2 is a vertical shaft 38 driven from themain shaft 40 of the machine in any suitable manner, forexample by bevelgear wheels 42 44, for the purpose of driving the shuttle throughoperative connections hereinafter described. The shaft 38 carriesanother bevel wheel 46 which meshes with a bevel wheel 48 carried by a"shaft 50 supported in hearings in the inside of a lateral extension 52of the horn 2.

To prevent endwise movement'of the ver-' tical shaft 38, and therebykeep the gears 42 44 and 46 48 in correct mesh, thevertical shaft 38isprovided with a portion 54' which extends upwardly through a bearing 56which is secured in the born 2 by a screw 58 which enters a groove inthe bearing 56. A screw'60 isscrewed into the top of the portion ,54 ofthe shaft and bears on a washer 62 which rests, on the top of thebearing 56. v

The other end of the shaft 50 in the lateral extension 52 of the horn isprovided with a gear wheel 64 which meshes with a gear wheel 66 carriedbya shaft 68 su ported in bearings in a second extension Z 0 ofthe hornwhich extension is. at an acute angle to the lateral extension 52 and issituated above it. The other end of the shaft 68 is coupled by means ofoperative connections which' willbe described later to the shuttle 8. tg

The end, of the extension 70 constitutes the ti of the horn and asreviously 'lnentione carries the shuttle liox 4, see particularly Figs.4 and 5, and the various parts situated Within the box. When the horn isturned, the shuttle 8 and shuttle box 4 would also be turned and theshuttle in consequence be moved out of correct operative positionrelatively to the needle 10 unless means were provided to counteractthis movement of the shuttle and box due to the turning of the horn. Asthe shuttle 8 is arranged withits axis at an angle to the path of theneedle, say, of about sixty degrees, the turning movement whichwould beimparted thereto would be a movement of the shuttle about its axis ofrotation and a movement of the shuttle about the axis of the horn, whichlatter movement would cause the face of the shuttle to be moved intodifferent planes. In order to counter act the latter movement as thehorn is swung means are provided for moving the shuttle box 4 relativelyto the horn 2, about an axis that is in alinement with the axis aboutwhich the horn turns, so that the shuttle box is held stationary andconsequently the face of the shuttle remains always in the same plane.To carry this into" having a part cut away on its external e riphery soas to form an annular recess 4. Seated inthis recess is a hardened steelring 76 which bears on the balls 78 of a ball washer 80, the balls ofwhich in turn rest on a hardened steel ring 82 carried by the horn. Tohold the ring 82 in place the top edge of its periphery is beveled as at84 and against this beveled portion bear the taered ends of screws 86which are screwed into the side of the horn.

In order to turn the shuttle box 4 and its appurtenances relatively tothe horn as the latter is swung into different positions the undersideof the shuttle box is provided with a beveled segmental gear 88 in meshwith which is a bevel wheel 90 carried by a shaft 100 which extendslongitudinally of and is situated Within the extension 70 of the horn.The other end of the shaft 100 is provided with a beveled gear wheel 102which meshes with a beveled gear wheel 104 carried by avertical shaft106 mounted in hearings in the horn at that point where the extensions52 and 70 join. A second beveled gear wheel 108 mounted on the shaft 106meshes with a beveled wheel 1 10at one end of the shaft 112 which ismounted in bearingsand'extends withinthe lateral extension 52, the otherend of the shaft 112 carrying a beveled wheel 114 which meshes with abeveled wheel 116 fixed to the frame of the machine and which surroundsthe vertical shaft 38 which drives the shuttle throughoperativeconnections.

From the foregoing it will be understood that as the horn 2 is swung thefixed bevel gear 116 will cause a rotation of the gear wheel 114 andthroughthe shaft 112, gear wheels 108, shaft 106, gear wheels 104 102,shaft 100, inion 90 and segmental rack 88 cause the shuttle box 4 torotate relatively to the tip of thehorn in a direction reverse to thedirection of rotati: .1 of the horn, so that the shuttle box w remainstationary in space.

It will of coursebe understood that the train of gearing is arranged ofsuch ratio that the amount of relative movement between the horn andshuttle box will insure that the said box shall remain stationary inspace or in its correct position with relation to the needle.

The method of mounting the shuttle and the means for driving the samewill now be described, the said driving means being so arranged thatmovement of the shuttle about its axis-of rotation as the result of thehorn being swung is prevented. The shuttle 8, which as previouslymentioned rotates about an axis which is substantially at an angle ofsixty degrees to the path of the needle, is on its inner side V-shapedwith a flattened edge, as shown clearly in Fig. 6, and is mounted withits V-shaped side in a correspondingly shaped guideway in a collar 118which is provided with a recess 120 for the passage of the needle andupper thread. For the purpose of driving the shuttle 8 it is providedwith two recesses 122 in its back portion which are adapted to beengaged alternately by means of arms 124 carried by a rocking frame 126.This method of driving the shuttle by first one and then the other arm124 of the rocking frame allows the thread to be looped over theshuttle.

The rocking frame 126 which is pivoted by pivots 128 in a ring 130, iscarried in a guideway 132 formed in the interior of the shuttle box.Each of the arms 124 of the rocking frame 126 is caused to engage and bedisengaged from the recesses 122 in the shuttle by means of a circularcam 134 which is held stationary in the interior of the shuttle box 4 bypins 136 engaging holes in projecting parts of the shuttle box, andwhich acts when the ring 130 is rotated on the faces of the arms 124opposite to those which engage the recesses. The ring 130 is connectedby universal joints comprising members 138140 and 142 with a rotary disk144, the member 138 engaging a block 146 secured by arms 148 in the ring130 while the member 142 engages a similar block secured to the ring144. The rotary disk 144 is held in a guideway and is rotated in theoperation of the machine by a bevel gear wheel 152 formed as part of itby another gear wheel 154 secured on the shaft 68. This shaft, as beforementioned, is situated in the second extension of the horn and is drivenfrom the main shaft 40 of the machine through the gearing 66 64 48 46 4244. The guideway in which the disk 144 is rotated is formed in theunderside of the shuttle box I and the disk 144 is held in place bymeans of a ring 156 which bears against its underside and which issecured by screws 158.

carry with it the rocking frame 126 and the cam 134 by acting on thearms 124 of the same will cause them to engage alternately the recesses122 in the back of the shuttle 8 and rotate the same and at the sametime permit the thread to be passed over the shuttle.

The axis of rotation of the disk 144 is in alinement with the axis ofrotation of'the horn so that any rotative movement of the disk 144 whichmight be imparted thereto as a result of the .rotative movement of thehorn is counteracted owing to the fact that as the horn is moved andtends to turn the disk in one direction about the axis of rotation thedriving connections to the disk will also, as a, result of the movementof the horn, tend to turn the disk 144 in the opposite direction and toan equal extent, it of course being understood that the drivingmechanism is so arranged that the. amount of movement shall be equal andopposite. It will therefore be understood that the disk 144 remainsstationary in space as the horn is moved and consequently, since theshuttle 8 is coupled to this disk, the shuttle 8. will also remainstationary. As previously mentioned, the machine is provided with alooper 6 which is adapted to engage the loop of needle thread'and de'fiect it to one side into the path of the beak which is formed on theshuttle 8 as is usual. The looper 6 is mounted on a frame piece 160having a sleeve 162 which is pivoted on a spindle 164 disposed acrossthe shuttle box. Projecting from the frame piece 160 is a cam runner 166which is engaged by a cam surface 168 formed on the ring 130 when thelatter is rotated, as h'ereinbefore described. The looper arm 6 isprovided with a projecting beak which, when the looper is allowedto rockon the spindle164 by the cam through the action of a spring plunger.170, is adapted to engage the loop and as previously mentioned deflectit to one side. The spring plunger 170 is i iounted in a recess in theshuttle box and by acting on the frame piece 160 keeps the cam runner166 in engagement with the cam 168 on the ring 130. v

The work is fed by the needlelO and just prior thereto the looper 6 ismoved out of the path of the needle by the cam surface 168 to-permit thefeeding of the Work by the needle. In order to prevent any possibilityof breakage of the needle or other accident, the looper 6 is formed intwo parts, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, which are pivoted together by apin 172 and which are normally held in alinement by means of a spring 174 so that inc 20 1 rotation passes through the said loop so that shouldthe needle engage the looper on account of the looper not being movedout of the path of the needle by the cam, the said looper will yield inthe direction in which the needle feeds.

The shuttle spool is carried in a casing which may, be prevented fromrotating with the shuttle by any suitable or well known means. a

The shuttle box 4 is provided with a hole 176 at its top part throughwhich passes the needle and the disposition of the needle and thedriving mechanism for the shuttle is such that they are on thesame sideof the shuttle. In the operation of the machine the needle having passedthrough the hole in the top of the shuttle box the loop of needle threadis engaged and deflected to one side by the looper 6 into the path ofthe beak on the shuttle 8. The shuttle 8 then in its first it is passedcompletely over the said shuttle. The shuttle then makes an idlerevolution while the stitch-tightening operation takes place and whilethe work is being fed.

In order to heat the shuttle box-the extremity of the horn whichconveniently is detachable is provided with a passage 178 extendingaround the horn. This passage is coupled at either end to two conduits180 that pass inside and extend longitudinally of the extensions 52 and70 of the horn. Theconduits 180 are connected at their base to a sleeve182 mounted in the base of the horn which sleeve is concentric with. the

axis of rotation ofthe horn, and which sur= rounds the vertical shaft 38by which the shuttle is driven as previously described. The sleeve 182enters a cylindrical block 184 which is fixed to.the frame of themachine and which is provided with upper and lower annular grooves 186which communicate with ports v188 in the .sleeve 182 which in turnregister with ports in .the conduits 180. One of these annular grooves186 is' connected to the source of heat which conveniently is oil pumpedthrough a heating coil while the other annular groove 186 constitutesthe outlet portwhich leads the-oil back to the supply. From theforegoing it will be understood that the oil circulates around the horn,it being pumped into one of the annular grooves and through one of theconduits 190 around the carrier attached to the shuttle box, and backthrough the other conduit to the annular groove leading to the outlet.It will be understood that with this -arrangen'lent when the horn' isswung into various positions the conduits 180 and'sleeve 182 will moveas one and the ports in the sleeve 182 and conduits 1 80 will always be.

in communication with the supply of heated oil and the outlet on accountof the annular grooves 186 in the block 184;. To catch any waste oilwhich may leak through the joint v not essential except so farjasspecified in theclaims, and may be changed or modified without departingfrom the broader features of the invention.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A lockstitch sewing machine, havingin combination, stitch formingdevices including a needle and a shuttle, a shuttle support, a rotaryhorn in which the shuttle support is mounted, and means for preventingthe shuttle support from partaking of the ro-T tary motion of the horn.

2. A lockstitch sewing machine, having in combination, a needle and ashuttle, a shuttle support, a'rotary horn in which the shuttle supportis mounted, means for holding the shuttle support in fixed position withrelation to the needle when the horn is rotated,

and driving connections for the shuttle arrafiged to be unaffected bythe 'turning-move- -ment of the horn.

3. A lockstitch sewing machine, having i l C0mbinat1on, a needle, arotary horn, a h ttle supportmounted in the horn, =a=-shutt1e mountedintthe support to turn about an.

axis at an inclination to the axis of the horn,

means for preventing the shuttle support from partaking of the rotarymotion of the tle arranged to be'unafiected by the turning V movement ofthe horn.

4. A lockstitch sewing machine, havingin combination, stitch formingdevices includ ing a needle and a shuttle, a rotary horn, a

shuttle support mounted in the horn to turn about an axis in alinementwith the axis of v the horn, a gear on the shuttle support, -a-

.fixed gear concentric with the axis of the horn, and connectionsbetween said gears,

arranged to prevent movement of the shuttle support with relation to theneedle whenthe I horn is rotated. I 1

5. A lockstitch sewing machine, having in combination, stitch formingdevices includrotating the shuttle, a driving gear at .the base of thehorn concentric with the axis of tions'between said gear and theshuttlefor 105 horn, and driving connections for the shut- I the horn, andconnections between said gears arranged to actuate the shuttle and to beunaffected by the turning movement of the horn.

6. A lockstitch sewing machine, having in combinati0n,'a needle, arotary horn, a shuttle support mounted in the horn, a rotary shuttlemounted in the support to turn about an axis at an inclination to theaxis of the horn, means for preventing the shuttle support frompartaking of the rotary motion of the horn, a gear mounted in theshuttle support concentric with the axis of the horn, connectionsbetween said gear and the shuttle for rotating the shuttle, a gear atthe base of the horn concentric with the axis of the horn, andconnections between said gears arranged to actuate the shuttle and to beunaflected by the turning movement of the horn.

7. A lockstitch sewing machine, having in combination, a needle, ashuttle, a loop spreader, means for moving the loop spreadertransversely to the path of the needle to present the loop to theshuttle, and means permitting a yielding movement of the loop spreadertransversely to the path of the needle at right angles to its loopSpreading movement.

8. A lockstitch sewing machine, having in combination, stitch formingdevices-including a needle, a shuttle and a loop spreader, a-rotary hornin which the shuttle and loop .spreader are mounted, means for actuatingthe shuttle and loop spreader, and means for maintaining theco-operative relationship of the loop spreader, needle and shuttle whenthe horn is rotated.

ARTHUR ERNEST JEtutAM. Witnesses:

FREDERICK WILLIAM WORTH, CECIL HERBERT Onoss.

